It's your first camping trip in your new RV, maybe it's your first camping trip ever, and you're really not sure what do to when you get to your campsite. There are a few things to remember when you first get to your camp site, making a list of everything you have to remember is a good thing to do for your first few trips. There are complete check lists to help you to setup your campsite, but this is just a general list of things to get your set in your first camp site.
When you get to your campsite, before you start pulling into your place spot, be sure to look around where you are backing into. Does the campsite have the water and electrical hooks ups your RV needs? How much hose and electrical cord do you have to reach the hooks ups? Is the ground level enough to park my RV safely? Do I need to back into my site, or am I able to pull through? 
Next look around the site to make sure it is clear of trees and any type of polls that are used by the camp ground. Not only do you have to be aware of trees so you don't back into them, but make sure you leave yourself enough room for your slide outs or your awning if you have one. Also be sure to look for any fire pits so you don't back into one or park your trailer to close where you could not use it. Have someone stand behind the trailer but in view of your vehicles side mirrors to help guide you into place; it would be a great idea to have walkie-talkies to make it easier to communicate with the driver.
Now that you have got your RV into place, do a quick check to make sure you can hook up your water and electrical cords securely. Once you have taken a walk around your RV to make sure you're in the spot you want to be and clear of any obstacles, put your wheel chocks on your RV to keep it from moving. If you are in a motor home be sure to set the parking brake. After you have disconnected from the tow vehicle if applicable you will need to place blocks down to put down your stabilizer jacks. Depending on where your levels are on your trailer you might need to have some watch the levels while you set the stabilizer jacks.
Once you have your RV level and secure, you can pull out your steps. Go in and make sure that you have power, switch off your battery power so you do not drain the battery, and turn your refrigerator on in the electric mode. Make sure the power supply from the hook up at the camp ground is working properly and that you have running water. Also once inside unlock your slide out, if you have one, push out the slide out, make sure that you are clear of anything on the outside before you put out the slide out.
When you have all the major tasks done getting your RV setup, then you can start unpacking your chairs, lay out your rug if you have one, pull out your awning, start enjoying your camping experience. Be sure you unpack the things you need, and anything you are not using keep close to the door side of your trailer or locked away in a compartment to keep anyone from taking something. It is always a great idea at night to make sure all your stuff is nearby your trailer, don't leave things scattered around.
Repacking, it does not sound as much fun as setting up the camp site, because setting up the camp site is more fun knowing you're on a mini vacation. When you're packing up its then that reality hits you in the face and you have to go back from where you came, and back to your everyday life. Really packing back up should not be as hard or take as long, just use the check list you used to setup but do it in reverse order.
A great hint to packing at the camp site is cleaning things off very well before packing them as neat as you can. This makes it easier for unpacking once you get home. It is more frustrating when you get home and things are full of sand, tangled up, or not rolled properly. Do it right at the camp site so when you get home things can be put into their place properly. Once you get home you will not feel like dealing with a big mess, more organized you are packing at the camp site the less frustrating it will be putting things away.
Make sure that you do unpack more if not all your RV once you get home. Food, things that can go to waste, things that are damp, anything that could cause your RV to stink or get ruined, because it might be a little while before you camp again. If you plan on camping every weekend, then you can leave many things in there that you will need for the next weekend, but still take out anything that does not need to be in there.
Once you have your trailer packed again, you will need to make sure you unhook from the hook ups at the campsite, pull in your slide outs, make sure your refrigerator is back on battery power, re-hitch your RV if applicable, and do everything you did when you setup at the site. It is a good idea to dump your waste at the waste station that the camp ground provides, sometimes there is a line to wait if there are a lot of people leaving the camp ground that day, but it is a good idea to dump it there. Not only is it safer but it helps saves on gas. Usually when traveling you will only have your fresh water tank filled on your way to the camp site, after camping for a weekend you should have very little fresh water left, dump your waste (black) tank, and flush your sewage hose out with your gray water, that means you will have to haul less back which should help on the gas mileage.
It's a lot of work to pack and unpack your RV but in the end the trip and camping with your family is well worth all the work. If you looking for some great ideas of where to go camping or visit on your trips, check out vacation guide.
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